Ebola, the disease that has killed many in Africa, has a struck a nerve for everyone across the world. With a recent case found in America, many people are on high alert. However, in this time of distress and sickness, greatness can be found. In a recent article, Aryn Baker talks about the many, now orphan, African children who lost their parents to the disease. One three-year old girl, Berlinda, watched her mother die and then was taken away by men in bio-hazard suits. In fear she was infected, she was taken away to an observation room. After her test results came out negative, she had no where to go and no family. The United Nations Children's fund estimated that around 3,700 other children have lost parents as well. So what will happen to these children?
In Berlinda's case, she was taken in Katie Meyler, a founder of an education center for young Liberian girls. Meyler, after seeing Berlinda, decided to change her education center into a home for Berlinda filled with toys. After taking in Berlinda, she began to take in more and her center became an orphanage for children who lost their family to this deadly disease. Meyler named the house HOPE, or Housing, Observation, and Pediatric Evaluation.
With the government unable to do anything for the children at this point, this HOPE house gives hope to many orphan children. Through this horrible tragedy, Katie Meyler has given children a place to stay, food to eat, and a reason to hope. Katie Meyler is a great example of what it means to be great. She lives a selfless life, serving those in need, and does it with all her heart. HOPE has been found in this Ebola outbreak.
Meg, we've all been alluded to the sad crisis in Africa, and now America, that is Ebola. It lightens my heart to know that there is someone there in Liberia helping these poor children. She really is the perfect example of what it means to be great, and hopefully through our service we can learn to be like her! Great job!
ReplyDeleteMeg, it was great to read that amongst the chaos and destruction caused by Ebola, Meyler stepped up to do something great. The use of statistics and a rhetorical question in the first paragraph made me want to read more. I think the final sentence was very clever and gave a great ending to a great post!
ReplyDeleteMeg, the use of statistics and facts builds your credibility as a writer, good job! I also like how you were able to find an article on something positive happening during a bad time; it shows that being great can be a simple thing.
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